And Solomon said, “If he will show himself a worthy man, not one of his hairs shall fall to the earth, but if wickedness is found in him, he shall die.”
Adonijah's bid for his father's throne has just collapsed, and the man who wanted to be king now clings to the altar and begs for his life. Solomon's answer is not a plain pardon but a condition, and that condition decides whether Adonijah lives or dies.
The Altar He Ran To
Adonijah ran to the altar only after his plot collapsed. One writer reads his grip on the horns as the act of a man with no love for the God whose altar he held:
Leslie M. GrantFear took hold of all Adonijah's guests, and they left the scene of their unholy celebration at once, each going his own way. Adonijah, in mortal fear, went and took hold of the horns of the altar. He is like ungodly men today who try to find refuge in Christian ritual. They say with their mouths that the sacrifice of Christ is the place of safety, yet they have no love for Christ at all.
Commentators differ on how to read the act. Another writer sees a real surrender that won a pardon. He sets Adonijah beside Joab, who later tried the same thing:
ForeshadowsAdonijah found refuge at the horns of the altar. The act appears to mean, "instead of a substitute, I present myself." In his case the king accepted that unconditional surrender and pardoned him. Joab later did the same, but it did not save him. He had murdered two men by treachery, and in Exodus 21:14 God had commanded that such a man must get no mercy: "you shall take him from my altar, that he may die." So Joab was put to death.
The King's Terms
Solomon does not refuse Adonijah, and he does not simply let him off. He grants his life, but ties it to a condition:
H. L. RossierAdonijah begs the king for mercy and tries to get from him a solemn promise to spare his life. Solomon agrees to forget and to be gracious one more time. But he places Adonijah under responsibility before the glory of his reign: "If he will show himself a worthy man, not one of his hairs shall fall to the earth, but if wickedness is found in him, he shall die."
"Go to Your House"
Solomon's next words show what a worthy life would mean for Adonijah in practice:
Leslie M. GrantSolomon was not vengeful toward his brother, but he was careful in the way he answered. At Solomon's word, they brought Adonijah from the altar. He bowed to Solomon, who told him simply, "Go to your house." In other words, Solomon told him to keep to private life and stay out of public life.
A Picture of the Coming Reign
Several writers see Solomon here as a picture of Christ reigning. The pattern is the same: outward submission accepted, hidden rebellion later exposed:
H. L. RossierIt will be the same in the future reign of the Messiah. He will spare many rebels who come to Him pretending to repent. But once evil shows in them, He will cut them off from the land. When righteousness reigns the wicked will no longer be tolerated. Solomon stands for the King of the coming age. He knows Adonijah, and seeing him bow does not change his judgment. He knows what is hidden in that proud heart, which is only pretending to submit and repent. From now on Adonijah's part was to stay quiet, like a man found guilty and kept under watch. He gains from this patience only as long as no evil shows in him.
Another writer draws the line between that reign and the present one:
Arno Clemens GaebeleinIn the present age grace reigns through righteousness. In the kingdom age, when the Lord rules over all, righteousness reigns. Judgment will fall quickly on disobedience.
How It Ended for Adonijah
Adonijah lived on under terms he could have kept. He did not keep them, and the condition in this verse became his sentence:
J. N. DarbySolomon at first shows mercy to Adonijah. But Adonijah's will is still restless, and he wants the dead king's wife. That awakens the righteous judgment meant for those who had failed in integrity and who had risen up against God's anointed. This is the first mark of the king reigning in glory. He carries out righteous judgment in the earth. Nothing escapes the watchfulness of this judgment.
Summary
- Fear drove Adonijah to the altar, and only after his rebellion had failed. One writer sees the same reflex in people today who shelter in religious ritual with no love for Christ.
- Grace answered him anyway: Solomon agreed to overlook the past and gave him his life a second time.
- Responsibility came with it. Prove worthy, and not one hair would fall; be found wicked, and die.
- Reach: writers see the coming reign of Christ here. He will spare many rebels who only pretend to repent, and cut them off once evil shows.
- Result: Adonijah stayed restless. He asked for the dead king's wife, and the condition he accepted became his sentence.